Depression

Serotonin, also known as 5-hydroxy tryptamine (5-HT), is a hormone found in the pineal gland deep within the brain, blood platelets, the digestive tract and the brain. Serotonin is a...

Depression is a serious mental illness that affects a persons ability to function in the world. When a person loses interest in their daily activities, and in severe cases, becomes preoccupied...

Depression is always a challenging disorder to treat. However, the challenge grows greater when treating depression brought on by brain trauma. This is a case when the depression is truly a result...

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 13 percent of new moms experience postpartum depression within a year of giving birth. A number of antidepressants are available to...

Depression requires treatment whether, mild or severe. While many treatments exist for depression, light therapy is gaining credence as a significant remedy and beginning to rival more...

Celexa is the name brand under which the prescription medication citalopram hydrobromide is sold. It is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor that is used in the treatment of the depression.

Numerous over-the-counter medicines---mostly herbal supplements---are said to increase serotonin levels in the brain. Some of the major ingredients can be difficult to find, but there are many...

Lexapro is the brand name for the prescription medication escitalopram oxalate. Doctors prescribe Lexapro for the treatment of depression in children ages 12 to 17, and the FDA approved its use...

Major depression is one of the four major mental illnesses alongside schizophrenia, schizo-affective and bi-polar disorder. This illness can be so severe that inflicted people may feel so unhappy...

Serotonin deficiency disease occurs when serotonin levels in the body fall to an unhealthy level. Serotonin works to regulate appetite, mood, sleep, and cognitive function. In most cases, simple...

Children who suffer from depression face potential challenges every day when they should be enjoying life. Completing self-care tasks, managing schoolwork and engaging in positive social...

Depression is experienced by around 15 percent of Americans at some point during their lives. (See Reference 2) It is thought to be caused by low activity of neurotransmitters such as serotonin,...

Lexapro is a brand name for the prescription medication escitalopram oxalate. Doctors commonly prescribe Lexapro for the treatment of depression and generalized anxiety disorder.

Adderall is the trade name for a powerful amphetamine and dextroamphetamine that operates by increasing the amount of serotonin and dopamine in the brain, making it ideally suited for treating...

Various drugs can be used to treat anxiety and depression. Prescribing doctors evaluate a patient's symptom severity and his history before choosing a medication. After a trial, medication may be...

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain. Elevated serotonin levels contribute to improved mood, upbeat emotions and higher energy levels, while lower serotonin levels have been linked to...

The winter blues is a disorder that usually affects individuals who reside in northern areas. The scientific name is seasonal affective disorder and anywhere from 5 to 14 percent of people may...

Few people think of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, or 5-HT) as a digestive aid, but up to 95% of this monoamine neurotransmitter in the human body is found in the gastrointestinal system, where...

Depression is a mental illness that many people throughout the world have experienced at one time or another. Although its causes are not entirely understood, researchers have identified certain...

Depression, also referred to as major depressive disorder, affects just under 15 million adults in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health. Depression can lead to...

Cymbalta is the brand name for duloxetine, a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SSNRI) that is prescribed to treat major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder,...

Are you feeling blue? A little melancholy? Some days are like that. Maybe an uncertain future has got you down, or you have too many bills to pay, or you're missing a friend who has moved away....

The human brain depends on complex system of electrical impulses and chemical reactions. Modern scientists have discovered that certain chemicals in the brain, which act as neurotransmitters, can...

Effexor is a medication that is used to treat major depression as well as anxiety. It is unique in that it's a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).The majority of...

Imipramine (Tofranil) is a tricyclic antidepressant prescribed to treat major depression, attention-deficit disorder and other mental conditions. While effective for many people, imipramine may...

Depression is complex, as Hara Estroff Marano writes in Psychology Today. Many factors contribute to its development. Yet one cannot ignore the fact that depression is, at least in part, a...

Psychiatrists prescribe SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, for a variety of conditions, most commonly depression and anxiety. Often, finding the right treatment for a particular...

Anxiety and depression are what are known as comorbid disorders; they are often both present in the same individual. Usually, you will develop one and then develop the other a short time later....

Depression affects both men and women but, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, more women are diagnosed with this illness annually. More than just a passing feeling of sadness,...

Feelings of apathy resulting from antidepressant use can interfere with everyday life, according to the Annals of General psychiatry. Patients receiving treatment for depression may seem to have...

Depression and anxiety have close ties in the mental health realm. For those suffering from both issues, there are a variety of medications to choose from that effectively treat both.

Norepinephrine and serotonin are chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. They are responsible for relaying the messages from your brain to your other nerve cells. When the communication...

Serotonin, a natural neurotransmitter, occurs naturally in the body. Serotonin is best known for affecting mood levels, but it also impacts sleeping, memory retention, even appetite. For people...

Depression a mental condition that causes feelings of hopelessness, irritability, chronic fatigue and a loss of appetite. It can be caused by a combination of genes, biochemical imbalances and...

Depression and anxiety commonly stem from outside influences, but your body can generate conditions that trigger depression. The difference between a normal bad mood and depression lies in the...

Depression is a potentially serious medical condition that can affect the ability to function from day to day. It can lead to lack of interest in daily activities, job loss, family difficulties...

Depression is a serious, potentially disabling mood disorder that affects up to 9.5 percent of U.S. adults each year, according to Partners in Behavioral Health Sciences. Treatment often includes...

Quitting cocaine often causes people to suffer from intense feelings of lethargy, emotional pain and mental fog. In fact, a study published in the journal "Biological Psychiatry" in 1998 by the...

Serotonin is produce by the nerve cells in your brain and your spinal cord. It is both, a natural hormone and a neurotransmitter. Serotonin is responsible for modifying your attention, behavior...

Food is used often to bring you up or bring you down it’s a double-edged sword that can prove to heal you or harm you. If you are feeling irritable or slightly down it might be from the foods that...

Serotonin--a chemical in the brain that regulates mood, sleep, appetite and aggression--is difficult to measure. It is not possible to directly measure levels of serotonin in the brain of a living...

According to the official Lexapro website, Lexapro is intended to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in adults. For adolescents ages 12 to 17, it is only...

Lexapro is a brand name for the prescription medication escitalopram. Despite its effectiveness in the treatment of depression and generalized anxiety disorder, Lexapro poses the risk of side...

Research shows that one of the long-term side effects of taking antidepressants is sensitivity to vitamins, amino acids and herbs. Even common vitamins and herbs can create problems if you take...

Carbohydrates can have opposite effects when trying to control the symptoms of menopause such as depression, mood swings, night sweats and hot flashes. A decrease in carbs may alleviate hot...

Depression is an illness that consists of feelings of hopelessness, changes in appetite and sleeping habits, loss of interest in activities once found pleasurable and sometimes even a desire to...

Everybody experiences episodes of feeling blue occasionally. People who suffer from depression experience more intense episodes of feeling hopeless and find it difficult to complete normal daily...

Depression is a clinically diagnosable disease. It involves a person meeting at least six of nine symptoms as listed in the DSM-IV TR, a manual used by mental health professionals. These symptoms...

Depression is an illness whose cause is not solely biological. Psychological and social issues also play a major role in the onset of the disease. Trauma and stress as well as the inability to...

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers in our brain that help regulate our mood, control our appetite, regulate thoughts, sleep and concentration among other things. Major depressive disorder...